Lone Worker Legislation for Australian Capital Territory

Here are the acts and regulations found in the Australian Capital Territory, related to lone working and work alone employees. We cover all the lone worker policy and legislation we have found for this area, specifically for the Australian Capital Territory.

Key Takeaways

• The Australian Capital Territory legislation cited in this article includes the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011.
• The cited Act describes a primary duty to protect worker health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.
• The cited regulation addresses risks associated with remote or isolated work and the need for effective communication and access to assistance.

Legislation Requirements at a Glance

Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Division 2.2
Primary duty of care
19 Primary duty of care
(1) A person conducting a business or under taking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of—
(a) workers engaged, or caused to be engaged, by the person; and
(b) workers whose activities in carrying outwork are influenced or directed by the person, while the workers are at work in the business or undertaking.
(2) A person conducting a business or under taking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking.
(3) Without  limiting  subsections (1) and (2), a person conducting  a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable—
(a) the provision and maintenance of a work environment without risks to health and safety; and
(b) the provision and maintenance of safe plant and structures; and
(c) the provision and maintenance of safe systems of work; and the safe use, handling, storage and transport of plant, structures and substances; and
(e) the provision of adequate facilities for the welfare at work of workers  in carrying outwork for the business or under taking, including ensuring access to those facilities; and
(f) the provision of any information, training, instruction or supervision that is necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety arising from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking; and
(g) that the health of workers and the conditions at the workplace are monitored for the purpose of preventing illness or injury of workers arising from the conduct of the business or undertaking.

Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011

Division 3.2.6
Remote or isolated work
48 Remote or isolated work – Act, s19
(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking must manage risks to the health and safety of a worker associated with remote or isolated work, in accordance with part3.1 (Managing risks to health and safety).

(2) In minimising risks to the health and safety of a worker associated with remote or isolated work, a person conducting a business or undertaking must provide a system of work that includes effective communication with the worker.
Maximum penalty:
(a) in the case of an individual—30 000.

(Note Strict liability applies to each physical element of each offence under this regulation, unless otherwise stated).

(3) In this section:
assistance includes rescue, medical assistance and the attendance of emergency services workers.
remote or isolated work, in relation to a worker, means work that is isolated from the assistance of other persons because of location, time or the nature of the work.